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Original poster

Toilet cubicle etiquette

244 replies

MaryBethMayfair · 20/06/2024 10:49

Female toilets in work. As per diagram.
AIBU that C is the 'correct' choice of cubicle, assuming all cubicles are empty upon entry?

I was just in cubicle C, and someone entered moments behind me, and went into B. I think that's madness and can't fathom why, out of the two remaining cubicles available, you'd opt to go into the one right next to someone. curious to know if others would have done the same.

I believe that statistically, A is apparently the cleanest cubicle, due to it being used least.

YABU: B is a good cubicle choice, I like to be in the middle of things.
YANBU: B is madness and should only be selected when A and C are otherwise engaged.

Toilet cubicle etiquette
OP posts:
GigiAnnna · 23/06/2024 20:32

OnTheRightSideOfGeography · 23/06/2024 20:18

Why does it matter whether it's a wee or a poo you're after - and how do you always know for a fact?!

If anybody thinks bad of you for having a poo in a toilet, they are the weirdo with issues; not you. They'd have a fair point if you were curling one out into the sink, but using a toilet (in a locked cubicle) as a toilet - for standard toilet-based duties?!

I feel like it's basic manners not to do a smelly deposit in the company of others. And who really wants to do their business so publicly? Yes it's a normal bodily function but humans are social creatures. It's not acceptable to fart and shit around colleagues without any thought.

OnTheRightSideOfGeography · 23/06/2024 20:18

Why does it matter whether it's a wee or a poo you're after - and how do you always know for a fact?!

If anybody thinks bad of you for having a poo in a toilet, they are the weirdo with issues; not you. They'd have a fair point if you were curling one out into the sink, but using a toilet (in a locked cubicle) as a toilet - for standard toilet-based duties?!

Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 23/06/2024 19:50

With the train example I would suspect it would either be sitting in their allocated seat (if pre-booked) or as you say, direction of travel (I get very travel sick going backwards, so would always pick the available forward facing seat).

GigiAnnna · 23/06/2024 16:04

I would just use any without giving it any thought. If I need to have a poo then I will be a bit more strategic about it and use the toilet that will give me the most privacy, but that's only if absolutely necessary and a whole other topic.

Nextdoor55 · 23/06/2024 15:55

I don't understand, I have no idea what I have just read, what does it matter?

Havinganamechange · 23/06/2024 10:06

It’s a bloody toilet, are you serious

Norisca · 23/06/2024 07:55

This, but on the train. When you are sitting in one of four seat facing each other (two facing two, 3 empty) and someone sits next to you rather than opposite. I presume because it was facing the direction of travel but I really felt like someone was in my space because of it.

ScrambledEggForBrains · 22/06/2024 16:07

As long as there's loo paper I'll be fine 😁

Currygirl · 22/06/2024 15:33

MaryBethMayfair - you should be in my work - we only have A & B cubicles. What would you do then?

pollymere · 22/06/2024 11:28

A is usually the cleanest because many don't like peeing next to the door. So if there were three, many will opt for B. I'd opt for A.

chubbychopsticks · 22/06/2024 03:10

So funny! I love these random and non issue discussions when killing time.

for me it would be cubicle A if C was occupied. No brainer. Any cubicle if full/busy. Although some people have their go to cubicles as a thing. It’s a bit like having a favourite cook top burner. (A discussion from another feed). I have a go to, yes.

maybe the person using B in your instance is using their go to. I’d secretly want them to use A though.

funny post you made me laugh!

OnTheRightSideOfGeography · 22/06/2024 02:03

Bowies · 22/06/2024 00:00

I agree with this and it’s happened to me when the bus was almost empty, baffling why the person walked past empty double seats and plonked themselves down right beside me.

Show quote history

Often the incessant chatterer, eyeing you up as their prey. It can be unbearable.

Bowies · 22/06/2024 00:00

User171 · 20/06/2024 14:17

Always leave as big a gap as possible.

Using the adjacent cubicle is like sitting on a bus seat already occupied by a passenger when there are plenty of empty double seats left.

I agree with this and it’s happened to me when the bus was almost empty, baffling why the person walked past empty double seats and plonked themselves down right beside me.

Bowies · 21/06/2024 23:53

Don’t agree C over A but agree A over B (given you were in C) to respect C’s space.

OperationDinnerout · 21/06/2024 23:46

TiddlyCove · 21/06/2024 23:44

I have a preferred one at work. I managed to get a long-term fault with it fixed (no easy matter in my office), and since then I've had a kind of 'bond' with it.

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most excellent

TiddlyCove · 21/06/2024 23:44

OperationDinnerout · 21/06/2024 23:10

psychologically and practically most i presume would use the first cubicle they get to. me personally its location location location

I have a preferred one at work. I managed to get a long-term fault with it fixed (no easy matter in my office), and since then I've had a kind of 'bond' with it.

CherubEarrings · 21/06/2024 23:38

You need to get out more.

OperationDinnerout · 21/06/2024 23:10

psychologically and practically most i presume would use the first cubicle they get to. me personally its location location location

Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 21/06/2024 22:54

Oh gosh.. hope I didn’t make a horrible faux pas at work tonight Blush we have A-E and A being occupied I moved on to B (I always use the next available cubicle thought process). I didn’t realise degrees of separation applied to cubicles!

Washingmachineslivelongerwithcalgon1 · 21/06/2024 22:12

ThePoshUns · 21/06/2024 22:06

Do people really waste their time thinking about such trivia?

You obviously have zero idea what it's like living with a digestive health issue.

ThePoshUns · 21/06/2024 22:06

Do people really waste their time thinking about such trivia?

UnNiddeRides · 21/06/2024 21:42

I think that this was touched on by a PP, but given that a fair number of posters have read that statically A is least used & so cleaner, I’d like to see the results of a study into who has read the statistics. If it’s a good number then maybe I’d avoid A. On the other hand the OP has said the toilets are cleaned often & no toilet roll lack or cracked seat bum-pinching issues so maybe a more carefree attitude is applicable. Is C was occupied I’d go for A.

Yoonimum · 21/06/2024 21:03

I never think about occupancy. I often check out cubicles for dry seats, plenty of loo roll, absence of floaters etc. Sorry if that is TMI but that is literally what is on my mind; not who is next door!

Cityandmakeup · 21/06/2024 21:02

Wee don’t care. Poo maybe give it half a second thought as go further along

HowardTJMoon · 21/06/2024 20:55

@BlankSpaceForBrains there is a rigidly enforced but absolutely unspoken set of rules about urinal selection in men's toilets. In the OP's example it would be C, then A, then B only if absolutely necessary. Only someone who's clinically insane would walk into an empty men's room that has three urinals and pick the middle urinal. You just don't.

More importantly you do not, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, stand next to someone else if there's a urinal further away you could use. You do not, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, look at someone else's penis. You do not, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN BEING INCREDIBLY DRUNK AND/OR A GEORDIE, talk to someone else at the urinals.

It's like being on the tube in London - you pretend there's no-one else there while at the same time staying as far away from them as you can reasonably achieve.